Design

When I ordered ornamental Allium bulbs last fall, I looked at the images online and in the catalog and chose thoughtfully, I thought, but continue to be amazed, surprised, and often delighted with what the flowers look actually look like. Some are small delicate heads, others are beautiful shades of dark mauve or purple, others light pink, and some are huge, much larger than their catalog pictures. I tried to keep track while planting them, but I had so many bulbs that I ended up poking them in various corners of beds. This one is quite striking and lovely; I'll have to match it up with its catalog image!

I enjoy the spontaneity of some perennials. As I get to know more of their habits, whether they're long-lived, whether they sulk in summer heat and drought, and where they might pop up next, it's fun to watch what's coming back strongly, what's disappeared, and where the new Allium bulbs I planted last fall are popping up. I ordered a variety of spring-flowering Alliums , Tritelea , and Leucojum from Brent and Becky's Bulbs, and popped the large number that I received into various places around the garden. It's a continuing surprise about which ones are flowering and where, as I'm not a very obsessive record-keeper! Most of the Allium species were chosen because of their attractiveness to bees, and close to 'normal' looking flowers, but a couple have turned out to be rather large, unusual specimens -- definitely not mixers in a border, but needing a distinct spot! This one is Allium christophii , I think. I'll have to find my order list. ...